Masks will be mandatory on P.E.I.: Morrison
Chief public health office brings in new measures beginning Friday
Wearing a mask will be mandatory in public places starting Friday in P.E.I. as provinces outside the Atlantic bubble continue to feel the brunt of a second wave of COVID-19.
Premier Dennis King made the announcement Tuesday morning during a weekly briefing on the coronavirus before chief public health officer Dr. Heather Morrison provided her regular update.
“This is a very pivotal time in the epidemiology of this pandemic in this country,” said King. “We can’t avoid the reality that we are in the midst of a second wave and it’s perhaps only a matter of time before it starts to affect us here at home.”
King said Morrison met with cabinet Tuesday morning and the province will implement temporary measures starting Friday at 12:01 a.m. until Feb. 15 or whenever it
is determined those measures can be relaxed.
“When the chief public health officer of this province says, ‘Premier I have great concern about what could come,’ then it’s incumbent upon all of us to do everything we can,” said King.
Morrison said masks have been strongly recommended indoors where physical distancing couldn’t be maintained, based on evidence that
mask-wearing can reduce the transmission of the virus.
As of Friday, Nov. 20, nonmedical masks or face coverings will be mandatory in indoor public spaces including stores, restaurants, places of worship, taxis and government buildings where public services are offered.
Schools and health-care
facilities already have maskwearing policies in place and these policies will continue, said Morrison.
Morrison said exceptions include children younger than two, people with valid medical reasons like active breathing problems and anyone who can’t remove a mask without assistance.
She also said there won’t be a penalty for not wearing a mask as required, adding the chief public health office is relying on Islanders to do
the right thing and routinely wear a mask when in public places.
Masks are just one tool to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Even while wearing a mask, Morrison reminds Islanders to maintain social distancing, good hand hygiene and keep circles of contacts small.
The mask policy and other adjustments coming this week are to keep P.E.I. in the new normal. The change comes as P.E.I. sees no new cases
of COVID-19 while three previously announced active cases are all self-isolating and being followed daily by public health nursing.
“I would rather try to respond to those who may not think mandatory masks are not a good idea than to be having to respond to others when we have widespread community transmission and we hadn’t tried to put this additional measure in place,” said Morrison.